Canada has plenty of freshwater, but that doesn’t mean managing it is easy. Communities are dealing with aging water infrastructure, and industries are under pressure to use water more efficiently. There are innovators working on solutions to these problems, but getting a new technology adopted can be a long road.
Bringing those solutions to life takes time, expertise and the right partners willing to help turn an idea into something people can use.
At AquaAction, RBC Foundation has been an important partner in our work since 2017. Together, we’re helping water technology entrepreneurs bring their innovations out of the lab and into the real world, where they can make a difference for communities across Canada.
AquaAction was recently featured in an RBC media campaign highlighting the charities and nonprofits working to make a difference across Canada with support from RBC. The feature shines a light on the work happening in the water sector and the role that partnerships can play in helping these organizations grow their impact.
Turning Promising Ideas Into Practical Solutions
A promising water technology can take years to develop. Getting it adopted by a municipality or an industrial client can be just as challenging. Entrepreneurs need more than funding to get there. They need experienced mentors, industry connections and opportunities to prove their technologies work.
Since 2015, we’ve funded and mentored more than 157 companies, helping create more than 1200 jobs along the way. Our programs connect entrepreneurs with the people and organizations that can help move their technologies toward real-world use.
More than 760 water solutions are now deployed across Canada, helping address challenges ranging from leak detection to contamination monitoring and water reuse.
Behind every one of these solutions is an entrepreneur working to solve a problem that matters. RBC Foundation’s support helps make that progress possible.
RBC team at AquaAction's 10 year anniversary.
Building on a Shared Commitment
RBC Foundation has committed another $2 million over three years to AquaAction, supporting the growth of the AquaEntrepreneur program and helping more water technology companies bring their solutions to market. This latest investment builds on a partnership that has supported water innovation since 2017.
This latest funding will help AquaEntrepeneur reach more water technology companies and give them a better shot at getting their solutions into the hands of the people who need them. For municipalities and industries, that means more opportunities to put proven technologies to work on real water challenges.
For us, long-term partnerships like this are essential. Innovation doesn’t happen overnight, and meaningful change takes time. Having a partner that understands this makes a real difference in helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into action.
We appreciate RBC Foundation’s continued commitment to this work and its role in helping build a stronger future for water in Canada.
Want to learn more? Read the full story on RBC’s website.